Interdisciplinary Health Programs Research

Dr. Janet Hahn, coordinator of the Center for Gerontology and assistant professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs conducts research on the importance of valuing the person in late life, especially those with dementia. In November of 2012, she presented two research papers at the Gerontological Society of America Annual meeting: "Applying Crucial Conversation Skills to Care Transitions" and "Effective Adaptation of Enhance Fitness Exercise Intervention for A Senior Living Setting". She also presented "Balancing Person-Centered Geriatric Care with Regulations, Technology, and Gizmo Idolatry" at the WMU Medical Humanities Conference in September 2012.

Dr. Hahn is working on a project with Dr. Susan Stapleton of the WMU Graduate College, Dr. John Spitsbergen of the Department of Biological Sciences, and gerontologists from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University to discover methods to encourage undergraduate students to pursue a career in aging research. She is also partnering with area skilled care facilities to develop effective methods to lower the rate at which residents return to a hospital after rehabilitation in a skilled facility. In addition, students from Dr. Hahn’s Spring 2013 service learning class conducted 180 interviews with individuals with memories of the World War II Era. The idea for this project was developed by Dr. Ellen Page-Robin, founding director of the WMU Gerontology Program and Dr. Barbara Rider, former chair of the WMU Occupational Therapy Department. Dr. Hahn is currently writing the manuscript for this project which the students titled “There is No Substitute for Victory”.

Dr. Mark St. Martin is an associate professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs. He currently is conducting research on the effects of meditative practices along with Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness faculty members Dr. Richard Oxhandler and Dr. Michele McGrady. He is also working with Dr. Glinda Rawls from the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Department and HUMANeX Ventures on research and development of the IMPACTeX Navigator, a career assessment. The Navigator was formerly known as the Career Guidance Inventory, before being further developed by Dr. St. Martin and Dr. Rawls and is currently used at WMU and numerous other schools and agencies to assist with career counseling.

Delores Walcott, Psy. D. is a professor who has a split appointment in the Sindecuse Health Center-Counseling Services and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Her academic home is with the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs in the College of Health and Human Services. Additionally she is a part-time faculty instructor in the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Department and a researcher specializing in mental health concerns from a multicultural perspective. She is also a previous grant recipient and principal investigator of Western Michigan University’s Suicide Prevention Program funded by SAMHSA (2005-2009). As the Director of Western’s Campus-wide Suicide Prevention program, she oversees data collection and programing. During her recent sabbatical leave she reviewed data collected on Western Michigan University campus during the SAMHSA grant funding period of 2006 to 2009. The data collected examined the stigma associated with help-seeking behavior on WMU’s campus. This issue is of critical concern for our diverse students, faculty, staff and administrators. It is believed that stigma impedes mental health service utilization on Western’s campus.